The naive sailor Ron arrives in Bahia to visit the famous Água dos Meninos street market. There, however, he is passed behind by the prostitute Maria, lover of the bandit Chico Diabo, who stabs him. He, however, can't forget her.
In Bahia, in the late '60s, the alienated college student Lula spends his time protesting in the university, but without political orientation, wandering on the streets, smoking grass, trying to be an actor and having sex. Meanwhile, a common young man stalks women on the streets trying to have intercourse with them.
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, during the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas. Outlaw Tonio is involved in a conflict between strikers and the police. His mistress tries to keep him from his companions, but he steals her belongings to help the persecuted. Dissatisfied, she denounces him, compromising him politically.
A gunman is hired to kill a corrupt politician. However, the agreement is canceled. Despite being a hired killer, the man takes his job seriously and prefers to go to the end.
In Bahia, an educated black man returns to his home fishing village to try and free people from mysticism, in particular the Candomblé religion, which he considers a factor of political and social oppression, with tragic outcome.
Zé is a very poor man whose most prized possession is his donkey. When his donkey falls terminally ill, Zé makes a promise to Saint Bárbara: If his donkey recovers, he will carry a cross - like Jesus - all the way from his city to Saint Bárbara's church, in the state capital. Upon the recovery of his donkey, Zé leaves on his journey. He makes it to the church, but the priest refuses to accept the cross once he discovers the context of Zé's promise.
João da Silva Brown, a resident of Salvador, has always been a fan of comics, movies and adventure series and superheroes. Once he learns about a course for detectives and decides to attend it. With his private detective degree, he sets up an office and places an ad in the newspaper. Now wearing a cape and hat, he waits in vain for customers.